Big or small, Arthur’s delivered all

FROM elephants and mice to just about everything in between – if Arthur Jiggins hasn’t delivered it, it probably hasn’t been sent.

Better known around town as Jiggo or Archie, he has been a driving force in Griffith for 45 years and he’s still going strong.

At 67, Mr Jiggins now only works 10 to 12 hours a week, but as workmate John Vitucci says, what Archie doesn’t know, isn’t worth knowing.

He started work on March 12, 1968 with Ebert and Sara, one of the companies operating the railway depot, and over the years has worked for P E Power, Ansett, Jamos Freight Lines, Colin Ross (Australia Post), Ian Wade Transport, Wagga to Griffith Fast Freight and currently Fast Freight CE and J P Dunn.

“I’m on the pension now so I only work 10 to 12 hours,” he said.

“But I still love seeing the people I’ve met over the years.

“People say to me that they thought I’d retired but this job keeps the old brain ticking over.”

Mr Jiggins said the elephant that he transported years ago remained his most unusual cargo.

“When the circus visited they asked me to ferry their elephant through the centre of town,” he said.

“The truck would lurch over to one side as it reached out and ripped branches off trees as we went past.

“I also delivered laboratory mice for a local school. I’ve delivered thousands of parcels over the years.”

Mr Jiggins has become the city’s most well-known courier, his smiling face and easy-going manner, a familiar sight for local businesses.

“I left school at 14 and started work at the Overs Dairy and worked 20 hours a day for two pound five a week,” he said.

“That dairy was just up the road from where I work now at Fast Freight.

“When I was at school all I ever wanted to do was work with trucks and I’ve finished up doing what I wanted.”